Rose plant named ‘Evera 121’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of rose plant named ‘Evera 121’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; large double pink-colored flowers with numerous petals; flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Evera 121’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Rose class, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially known as a potted Rose and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Evera 121’.

The new Rose plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new potted Rose cultivars with novel and attractive flower colors, disease resistance and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Rose plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Mar. 20, 2001 of two unnamed proprietary Rosa hybrida seedlings, not patented. The cultivar Evera 121 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Denmark. Plants of the new cultivar differ primarily from plants of the parent selections primarily in flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose plant by cuttings in Denmark since Jul. 20, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Rose plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Rose plant has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature and light level, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Evera 121’. These characteristics in combination distinguish the new Rose plant as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Large double pink-colored flowers with numerous petals.     -   4. Flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose plant can be compared to plants of the Rose cultivar Pink Ever, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Denmark, plants of the new Rose differed from plants of the cultivar Pink Ever in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose were more compact than plants of the         cultivar Pink Ever.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose were more freely branching than plants         of the cultivar Pink Ever.     -   3. Plants of the new Rose were more freely flowering than plants         of the cultivar Pink Ever.     -   4. Plants of the new Rose had slightly smaller flowers but more         petals per flower than plants of the cultivar Pink Ever.     -   5. Plants of the new Rose and the cultivar Pink Ever differed in         flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate typical specimens of the vegetative growth and flowers of the new Rose plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actual colors of the new Rose plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical plants of the new Rose plant grown in a container in Denmark.

The photographs at bottom of the sheet comprises close-up views of the upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical flowers and leaves of the new Rose plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Denmark in 15-cm containers in a glass greenhouse and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions during the summer. Plants used for the description were about 15 weeks old. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Rosa hybrida cultivar Evera 121.         -   Commercial.—Potted Rose. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal or stem cuttings.         -   Time to rooting.—8 to 10 days with soil temperatures of 20°             C.         -   Root description.—Fine; freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Upright and rounded plant habit.         -   Plant height.—About 26 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 20 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Vigorous; suitable for 15-cm containers.         -   Stem description.—Branching habit: About three to four             lateral branches per plant. Lateral branch length: About 18             to 26 cm. Lateral branch diameter: About 5 mm. Internode             length: About 1 to 2.5 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             146C. Thorns: Quantity: Sparse. Length: About 3 mm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Color,             immature: 144B to 144C. Color, mature: 173C to 173D.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternately; compound with             typically three to five leaflets per leaf, generally             symmetrical. Leaf length: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Leaf width:             About 5 cm to 6 cm. Leaflet length: About 2.1 to 4.5 cm.             Leaflet width: About 1.6 to 3.1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Serrulate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; leathery. Petiole length: About 1.5 to 2 cm.             Petiole diameter: About 1 mm. Petiole texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing foliage,             upper surface: 137C. Developing foliage, lower surface:             147B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Between 139A             and 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Closest to             191A. Venation, upper surface: 147B. Venation, lower             surface: 148C. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces: 147B.             Stipules: Shape: Lanceolate; apex, acuminate; base,             truncate; margin, serrate. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About             2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Leathery, smooth.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Closest to 137A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Large double pink-colored flowers             with numerous petals. Consistently symmetrical rosette             flowers that are hemispherical in shape. Flowers borne             singly on erect and strong peduncles; about four to five             flowers and flower buds per plant. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions,             optimal flowering from spring through autumn under garden             conditions; flowering intermittent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 to 6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3 to 3.5 cm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—About two weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Slight; typical of Rosa.         -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Shape: Ovoid.             Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Color: 147B.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Numerous; about 100 per flower. Length:             About 1.2 to 4 cm. Width: About 1 to 4.2 cm. Shape: Broadly             obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny.             Color: When opening, upper surface: 51C. When opening, lower             surface: 54A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: 54D;             towards the base, close to 2D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five. Calyx length:             About 3 cm. Calyx diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Linear;             falcate. Apex: Sharply pointed. Base: Truncate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 137A.         -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong, but flexible. Aspect: Mostly             erect. Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About ten per             flower. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: 16B. Pollen color: 22A. Pistils: Quantity:             About 40 per flower. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma             color: 145B. Style color: 145D. Receptacle shape: Cup-like.             Receptacle size: About 7 mm by 6 mm. Receptacle texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Receptacle color: Closest to 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Rose have not been shown     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Rose plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new rose have been shown to be     tolerant to temperatures from 0 to 45° C. 

1. A new and distinct rose plant named ‘Evera 121’, as illustrated and described. 